Cecilia Wollmann is heading to Rio de Janeiro on an Olympic scouting mission tomorrow.

During her visit the women’s Laser Radial sailor intends to come to grips with the “difficult” conditions she will be confronted with when the Games are held in August.

“The objective of this trip is to get a feel for the racing area,” Wollmann, who qualified for the Olympics at January’s Sailing World Cup in Miami, said. “While down there we will be looking at how the wind and current is.

“I have heard from other people that it is a difficult place to sail in, so getting as much practice as possible in will be very beneficial.”

Wollmann will be put through her paces in Brazil by her Argentinian coach, Christian Noe, who accompanied her at last December’s Youth Sailing World Championships in Malaysia, and January’s Sailing World Cup in Miami.

As well as getting a feel for the local conditions on the water, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club sailor has some other important business to tend to during her visit to Rio.

“We are also looking at the distance the village is from the sailing venue and other organisational information,” Wollmann said.

In the lead up to her departure Wollmann took the necessary steps to safeguard herself from the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil.

“Obviously, there are concerns with the Zika virus,” she said. “However, I have discussed with the Bermuda Olympic Association and my doctor to talk about taking all the necessary precautions to stay safe.”

Along with all other National Olympic Committees, the BOA has received reassurances from the International Olympic Committee over health concerns stemming from the outbreak of the virus.

Along with Zika, Olympic organisers have been confronted with sewage-infested waters at the venue for the Olympic sailing regatta where Wollmann will compete.

Last July, the AP reported that its first round of tests showed disease-causing viruses directly linked to human sewage at levels up to 1.7 million times what would be considered highly alarming in the United States or Europe. Experts said athletes were competing in the viral equivalent of raw sewage and exposure to dangerous health risks almost certain.